How to ask for a printer's proof, and what to check when it arrives

A proof is a sample of your book made before the full print run. It is your last cheap chance to find a problem, so it is worth treating it seriously.

Kinds of proof

You may be offered a few different things.

• A PDF proof. The printer sends the final file back, laid out as it will print. Good for checking page order and layout, but it cannot show you colour or paper.
• A digital or sample copy. A physical book printed on a digital machine. Good for size, binding and feel.
• A press proof. A sample from the actual press, which shows true colour. Less common and often not offered for small runs.

Ask what the printer offers and what each one tells you. Do not assume a PDF proof means the colours on the cover will match your screen. Screens glow, paper does not.

What to check on a physical copy

Get a quiet hour and a pencil.

The outside

• Is the title spelled correctly, and the author name?
• Is the barcode readable? Scan it with a phone.
• Does the spine text sit centred? Does it match the cover?
• Are colours close to what you expected, especially dark colours and skin tones?

The inside

• Are page numbers in the right place and in order?
• Do the chapters start on the pages you planned?
• Are any lines or words cut off near the edges or the spine?
• Is any text too close to the gutter, the inner margin, so it disappears when the book is held open?
• Are images sharp, and in the right place?
• Does the text print dark enough and look the same throughout?

The feel

• Flip through it quickly. Do pages stick together?
• Open it flat. Does it crack or resist?
• Does the paper show text through from the other side?

Read some real pages

Choose a few random pages and read them aloud. Errors that hide on a screen often jump out on paper. Check the first page of each chapter, and the last page of the book.

Write down every note

Put your comments in one list, with page numbers. Send the list in one message. Many small emails invite confusion about which version is current.

Approve in writing

When you are happy, tell the printer clearly that this proof is approved, and say which file or version you mean. Keep that message. If something differs from the approved proof later, you will be glad you have it.

If you are not happy, say so, and ask for another proof. A second sample is far better than a full print run you regret.